Type 2 Diabetes and Our Children

The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common in U.S. kids and teens, especially in those who are overweight. Some studies report that between 8% and 45% of children who've been newly diagnosed with diabetes have the form known as type 2.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the simplest type of sugar in the body, and one of its main energy sources. Our bodies break down the foods we eat into glucose and other nutrients needed to fuel bodily functions, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract. The glucose level in the blood rises after a meal and triggers the pancreas to make the hormone insulin and release it into the bloodstream. But in people with diabetes, the body either can't make or respond to insulin properly. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood remains higher than normal. High blood sugar levels are a problem because they can cause a number of symptoms and health problems.

The two types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Both cause blood sugar levels to become higher than normal but do so in different ways.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Kids with type 1 diabetes need insulin to help keep their blood sugar levels within a normal range.

Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes) is different. Unlike someone with type 1 diabetes, a person with type 2 diabetes still produces insulin but the body doesn't respond to it normally. Glucose is less able to enter the cells and do its job of supplying energy (this is called insulin resistance). This causes the blood sugar level to rise, making the pancreas produce even more insulin. Eventually, the pancreas can wear out from working overtime to produce extra insulin and may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. People with insulin resistance may or may not develop type 2 diabetes — it all depends on whether the pancreas can produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal.

The vast majority of people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight. Excess fat makes it harder for the cells to respond to insulin. And being inactive further reduces the body's ability to respond to insulin. In the past, doctors called this type of diabetes adult-onset diabetes because it almost exclusively affected overweight adults. Today, that description is no longer accurate. More kids and teens are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, most likely due to the fact that more kids and teens are overweight.

Those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes are also more likely to develop hypertension (high blood pressure) or abnormal levels of blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides). People with these conditions have a greater risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

So with all of these facts in mind, prevention is key. Educating our children concerning the problem and dangers of obesity while being well informed ourselves is the starting point.